St Peter Le Poer
Encyclopedia
St Peter le Poer was a church on the west side of Broad Street in the City of London
. The church, often spelt "St Peter le Poor" was in existence by the end of the twelfth century. The name was traditionally explained as a reference to the poverty of the area - although by the beginning of the nineteenth century it was one of the richest in the City - or it’s proximity to the monastery of St Augustine, whose monks professed indigence. It was rebuilt in 1540, and enlarged on the north side in 1615. In 1630 the steeple was rebuilt.
The church escaped destruction in the Great Fire of 1666, but had fallen into such poor condition by 1788, that the parishioners obtained an act of parliament to demolish the old church and rebuild it. The new building, to the designs of Jesse Gibson, was completed in 1791. The old church had projected into Broad Street, but the new one was placed further back, over the old cemetery.
The main body of the new church was circular in plan, about 54 feet across, with a circular niche on the western side for the altar, and a porch and vestry on the east side. A wooden gallery ran all around the church, except at the altar end. The coved ceiling was ornamented with panels, each decorated with a flower. The centre of the ceiling rose into a large lantern, with glass sides. There were no side windows. The interior was described in Britton's Illustrations of the Public Buildings of London as having "more the air of a lecture room than a church".
The church was surrounded by houses, except for the east front in Broad Street, which had four attached columns supporting an entablature and pediment, behind which rose a low square tower, ornamented with pilasters and urns. The round form of the church was not evident from the street.
As late as 1884 it received a new Henry Willis
organ but, as the City’s
resident population declined, it was deemed surplus to requirements and demolished in 1907, utilising the Union of Benefices Act of 1860
. The parish was united with that of St Michael, Cornhill
.
The proceeds from the sale of the site were used to build St Peter-le-Poer in Barnet, which also received the City church's font, pulpit and panelling.
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
. The church, often spelt "St Peter le Poor" was in existence by the end of the twelfth century. The name was traditionally explained as a reference to the poverty of the area - although by the beginning of the nineteenth century it was one of the richest in the City - or it’s proximity to the monastery of St Augustine, whose monks professed indigence. It was rebuilt in 1540, and enlarged on the north side in 1615. In 1630 the steeple was rebuilt.
The church escaped destruction in the Great Fire of 1666, but had fallen into such poor condition by 1788, that the parishioners obtained an act of parliament to demolish the old church and rebuild it. The new building, to the designs of Jesse Gibson, was completed in 1791. The old church had projected into Broad Street, but the new one was placed further back, over the old cemetery.
The main body of the new church was circular in plan, about 54 feet across, with a circular niche on the western side for the altar, and a porch and vestry on the east side. A wooden gallery ran all around the church, except at the altar end. The coved ceiling was ornamented with panels, each decorated with a flower. The centre of the ceiling rose into a large lantern, with glass sides. There were no side windows. The interior was described in Britton's Illustrations of the Public Buildings of London as having "more the air of a lecture room than a church".
The church was surrounded by houses, except for the east front in Broad Street, which had four attached columns supporting an entablature and pediment, behind which rose a low square tower, ornamented with pilasters and urns. The round form of the church was not evident from the street.
As late as 1884 it received a new Henry Willis
Henry Willis
Henry Willis was a British organ player and builder, who is regarded as the foremost organ builder of the Victorian era.-Early Life and work:...
organ but, as the City’s
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
resident population declined, it was deemed surplus to requirements and demolished in 1907, utilising the Union of Benefices Act of 1860
Union of Benefices Act 1860
The Union of Benefices Act was a necessary piece of legislation to reduce the number of parish churches in the City of London as the residential population declined in the second half of the 19th century.Churches affected were...
. The parish was united with that of St Michael, Cornhill
St Michael, Cornhill
St Michael, Cornhill is a medieval parish church in the City of London with pre-Norman Conquest parochial foundation. The medieval structure was lost in the Great Fire of London and the current church was designed by Sir Christopher Wren between 1670-1677....
.
The proceeds from the sale of the site were used to build St Peter-le-Poer in Barnet, which also received the City church's font, pulpit and panelling.